Name: Dr. Jozef Krajňák
Affiliation: Technical University of Košice, Slovakia
Research interests: flexible coupling; vibrations; noisiness; gaseous medium 

The following is a short interview with Dr. Jozef Krajňák: 

1. Congratulations on being an outstanding reviewer for Q1! Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and share a bit about your research interests?
Thank you for the award. I am currently researching flexible pneumatic couplings. I am studying mechanical systems and determining the impact of couplings on temperature, noise, and vibration. I am trying to find a way to reduce negative effects such as noise and vibration. My goal is also to provide sustainable methods, and I am doing research on this. 

2. What motivated you to become a reviewer?
I like to read new articles. I study new technologies, new inventions, and new things. 

3. How do you approach the peer review process to ensure fairness and constructive feedback?
I read each article in detail. I try to point out any shortcomings to the authors of the article, or I give the authors of the article comments on how to improve the article. Some articles are very interesting. 

4. What are the biggest challenges you face as a reviewer, and how do you handle them?
The articles that I review are of good quality. Sometimes, I have a minor problem when the title of the article is interesting, but after opening the article, I find out that there are only formulas and very complicated and intricate mathematics and mathematical formulas. Checking such formulas is very difficult and complicated. If I knew that there were so many mathematical formulas, I would refuse to review such an article. However, I didn’t know this before accepting the review. 

5. What advice would you give to aspiring researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their fields?
I would advise beginning researchers to read a few professional articles in their field and get inspired. Every beginning expert must pay special attention to the conclusion of the article, where the importance of the article for practice or the future of the field should be emphasized. 

6. Applied Sciences is an open access journal. How do you think open access publishing benefits authors and the broader research community?
It’s very good. Everyone has access to the article, which is positive, especially for young researchers.